Snake actor returns to 'Metal Gear Solid 5,' lauds game post-Sutherland

David Hayter — the iconic voice behind Snake for many years — has ultimately "forgiven" series creator Hideo Kojima for recasting his role in 2015's Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain after experiencing the "exceptional" game firsthand. Originally replaced by Hollywood star Kiefer Sutherland, Hayter acknowledged that playing the game at launch would've felt like "60 hours of humiliation," bluntly stating: "I hold no particular affection for Kojima. I don't feel compelled to collaborate with him again." Now, with time's perspective, Hayter told PC Gamer, "Honestly, I resisted. The thought of playing stung my pride. But after a decade, I thought, 'Screw it—why protect wounded feelings?' [...] As a screenwriter, getting fired comes with the territory. I'm not some fragile kid here. "I told myself, 'Grow up and play the damn game.' So I did. And it's phenomenal." Hayter extended that forgiveness to Sutherland too. After an unexpected meeting at a Dallas bar where they "shared several drinks," Hayter reflected: "He's genuinely great. No grudges—wiped clean." Regarding his high praise for Phantom Pain? "The brilliance lies in replaying identical scenarios where enemy patterns remain consistent, yet your approach radically transforms each attempt—it feels like temporal manipulation... Absolutely masterful. That’s why I’ve let go of the past." We agreed wholeheartedly, declaring in IGN’s 10/10 Metal Gear Solid: The Phantom Pain review: "The Phantom Pain defies expectations—a game where every mechanical nuance serves a deliberate function. While its narrative minimalism may polarize fans, the emphasis on player-driven espionage tales cements it as the series’ pinnacle." Are titles like Death Stranding and Metal Gear over-dependent on cinematics? To settle the debate, we analyzed the runtime of Kojima’s cutscenes across his Konami era and independent projects. Explore our investigation into whether Kojima’s games feature excessive cutscene reliance once and for all.